Heat irritates high rise residents

Despite rising spring temperatures, the central air conditioning systems in the high rises, graduate towers and Meyerson Hall have not yet been turned on, Residential Services Manager Rodney Robinson said yesterday. And many students have complained about the sweltering temperature in the residences. "It's hot as hell right now in here," College junior and High Rise North resident Paul Levin said yesterday afternoon. According to Robinson, there needs to be a three-day trend of weather above 75 degrees during the day before Residential Maintenance can turn on the air conditioning. Residential Living Facilities Manager David Heary added that Philadelphia codes require the University to provide heat in residences whenever the temperature is below 50 degrees before May 15. He said heat in the residences is currently turned off. But since temperatures are expected to drop, he said the air may not be turned on until next week. "If [next] weekend stays in the 70s, they'll probably bring it up," he explained. "Hopefully everything will be hunky-dory by then." But many students said they would like to have the air conditioning turned on as soon as possible. "I guess it's a luxury, but it would be nice," College sophomore Patricia Powers said. Scott Leiman, a Wharton sophomore, complained that there is no circulation in his high rise room. "It's bearable at night," he said. "But right now I'm glad I have to go to class -- kind of." To increase air circulation, many high rise residents have been leaving their windows open and turning on fans. "The wind is blowing pollen in," Levin said. "I've been sitting here with my eyes tearing. I'm crying over the lack of air conditioning." And College sophomore Aaron Bitler said his high rise room has become a wind tunnel since he has left the windows open. "You can't even open the door because of the wind," he said. "My room looks like a war zone because the wind blows through. It looks like someone ransacked it." But according to most residents, high rise rooms are not as hot as the downstairs lobbies of the buildings. "It's probably close to 85 or 90 degrees in the lobby," Leiman said. He added that he felt sorry for the security guards who have to stay downstairs for long periods of time. Bitler said he agreed. "If you wanted to stand in the lobby, you'd be standing in a pool of your own sweat," he said.